Eto’o display provides: Coach Loew worries over poor state of German Machines

MONCHENGLADBACH

Germany’s Per Mertesacker (left) and Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o contest for the ball during their World Cup friendly match in Moenchengladbach, Germany on Sunday

Cameroon coach Volker Finke says Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o gave his side a timely World Cup boost with an impressive display in their 2-2 friendly against Germany.

The 33-year-old Cameroon captain had laboured with groin and hamstring injuries during the Indomitable Lions pre-World Cup camp in Austria.

But the Chelsea star, who is now a free agent and has been linked to a move to Arsenal, produced an impressive display over 92 minutes against Germany in Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

He was a constant menace to the hosts’ defence and put Cameroon ahead with a well-taken 62nd-minute strike.

And he created the best chance of the first-half with a superb defence-splitting pass which Benjamin Moukandjo failed to convert.

With 114 caps and now 55 goals for Cameroon, Eto’o is a key factor in his country’s bid to reach the World Cup knock-out stages for the first time since 1990.

Return to form

“I’m pleased he lasted so long out on the pitch after coming to us injured from Chelsea, we’ll have to see how he is in the next few days,” said Finke, who will submit his final 23-man squad on Monday.

“With his quality, he always presents himself in dangerous situations and he’s simply an exceptional striker.”

Eto’o missed last Thursday’s 2-1 friendly defeat against Paraguay and Cameroon’s German boss Finke had said the veteran would “only play a few minutes” against Germany.

Finke’s Indomitable Lions play their final warm-up match against Moldovia in Yaounde on Saturday having drawn with Germany after Eric Choupo-Moting’s late equaliser.

Their opening World Cup match is against Mexico on June 13 in Group A where they also face Brazil and Croatia.

“It was important to get a good result against Germany and show what we can do, but the all important thing for us now is June 13,” added Finke.

Meanwhile, Joachim Loew admits he has several problems to solve after Germany failed to impress in their 2-2 draw with Cameroon.

Germany host Armenia in their final warm-up match on Friday night in Mainz before flying out to Brazil the following day, but coach Loew says improvements must be made.

Germany open their World Cup campaign against Portugal in Salvador on June 16 and also face the United States and Ghana in Group G.

The German coach will reduce his squad to 23 names from 26 later on Monday having been without captain Philipp Lahm, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfield general Bastian Schweinsteiger against Cameroon.

More worryingly for Loew, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil was again off form in Moenchengladbach as Germany only played well in patches.

“You could see the freshness was missing, our passing game wasn’t good and we made many, many mistakes,” said Loew.“It’s something we need to work on, our chance conversion rate is not optimal.”                

Germany team

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Roman Weidenfeller (Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96). Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern), Kevin Grosskreutz (Dortmund), Erik Durm (Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern). Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern), Christoph Kramer (Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern), Thomas Mueller (Bayern), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern).Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio).

             — AFP